Piston type filling machine



Sept. 1956 L. F. PAHL ET AL 2,761,605

PISTON TYPE FILLING MACHINE Filed July 16. 1954 12 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORS fiao R- Ba Ewe-deride E. Eaui'h,

Cpnfl L. B y,

ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 4, 1956 L. F. PAHL EIAL PISTON TYPE FILLING MACHINE FiledJuly 16,1954 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR-S.

E. F wlh, 1 DZ? ATTORNEYS.

1 M A Z E ma p a 2 LFQ M r WY m Sept. 4, 1956 L. F. PAHL ETAL PISTONTYPE FILLING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 16. 1954 v INVENTORS.L ep 17X Pphl l' i-pde cicEFJaulih, BY 'r J -l):. y

'- ATTORNEY/5'.

Sept. 4, 1956 1... F. PAHL ET AL PISTON TYPE FILLING MACHINE l I 1 i l2Sheets-sneer. 6

L eo R Ppzhl IE-ederidcEF aui'h J (Zarl L. D

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mvm l 3w Filed July 16. 1954 12 SheetsSneet 7 Sept. 4, 1956 L. F. PAHLEI'AL PISTON TYPE FILLING MACHINE Filed July 16. 1954 Sept. 4, 1956 L.F. PAHL ETAL 2,

PISTON TYPE FILLING MACHINE Filed July 16. 1954* 12 Sheets- 8mm 8INVENTORS:

1 9 E Pplhl M ederickEEauih,

ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 4, 1956 L. F. PAHL ET AL PISTON TYPE FILLING MACHINE l2Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed July 16, 1954 INVENTORS:

L ,ep 1 P ahl Epdezjck EFpeuih, BY 5,33 L zl 2i /y ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 4, 1956 L. F. PAHL ETAL 2,

PISTON TYPE FILLING MACHINE Filed July 16, 1954 l2 Sheets-Sheet 12 IINVENTORS: L ep E P ahl FnederjckEF ul'h,

Car} L.Dpt

m wwww ATTORNEYS.

a container.

v valve.

'iounding the machine to therebyrnix alto fill either bottles orcans;In'other words; t s I 'necessaryto replace the quickly removable fillinvalve of the filling head by aifillin'g valve having 'thep per containerengaging means. The word containeras u .d "throughoutthe specificationis to include cansaiid v. r "v r... t'v'hi l 1,14

2,761,605 PISTON TYPE FHJLING Leo F. Pahl, Frederick E. Fauth, and CarlL. Day, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Crown Cork & Seal Company, .Inc.,Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New York Application July 16, 1954,Serial No. l

52 Claims. (Cl. 226-98) The present invention relates to apparatus forfilling containers with either a viscous or thiniflowable'prodhct and,more particularly, to a filling 'machine' cap able of dispensing ameasured charge of the product rapidlyto vDifliculties heretofore havebeen encountered in filllng containers to a desired level with flowableproductsother than thin liquids; Where the product being dispensed was aheavy viscous liquid, such as a garnished soupl heavy cream or ketchup,or was a viscous flowable material such as, mayonnaise, salad dressing,peanut butter, grease or various paste products, itwas often difiicultto maintain thelevel of theproduct in the reservoir constantand,consequently, containers were either over or underqfilled.

Further, any solids mixed with the flowable product being dispensed,which caught on the filling valve seat when the filling valve closed,caused excessive leakage of thefilling The prior filling machines usedfor dispensing food products of the above-mentioned type, were not ofsuch simplicity in design as to provide a high degree of sanitation. Inother words, the filling valves of prior machines had many crevices inwhich bacteria could collect. Also, any metal worn during use almostinvariably could be deposited in containers during the filling cycle.Finally, these prior filling machines were provided with filling valvesincapable of being quickly removed for cleaning.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a filling machinecapable of filling containers athigh speeds with all types of flowableproducts; The term flowable product as used in this specification is tovision of a system for supplying to a rotary fillirig machine compressedair with oil entrained therein' the air being used to actuatea pistontype charglngcylinden' .The invention comprehends an arrangement toisolate the air from'the product being dispensed and whereby the aircannot beexhausted to the atmosphere immediately surwith the.foodprodnet in the reservoir.

Ancillary to the preceding objech it s afurtherobject ofthe presentinvention to -provide a filling n'aachinehaying a reservoir which isisolated or sealed ofi tromfthe operating elements of the"machine.

' A further object of the present invention is the provisionjof afilling machine which readily can be A still further object of thepresent invention is the provision of a rotary type filling machinehaving a rotating reservoir with-a stationary cover, the inlet to thereservoir for the flowable product being provided'in the stationarycover.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a fillingmachine which may be easily adjusted to accommodate containers ofvarious height.

Ancillary to the preceding object, an object of the present invention isto provide a filling machine which will deliver a measured charge of aproduct to the container lbeiug filled and which may be adjusted to varythe volume of product dispensed dependingupon the size of the containerbeing filled or the level of fill desired in a container.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of asimplified means of lubricating the cent which controls the air valvefor operating the piston in the charge measuring cylinder.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a fillingvalve which will only operate when there is a container therebeneath.This feature of the invention prevents a product being dispensed ontothe filling table when no container is present. Hence, the sanitation ofthe filling machine will be increased and unsightly appearance ofspilled products on the filling table'will be eliminated.

.Still another object of the present invention is the provision of afilling valve wherein the moving parts have arninimum of metal to metalsurface contact, thus, materially decreasing the change of foreignmatter being deposited'in the containers being filled.

-A further'object of the present invention is the provision of a fillingvalve operable by engagement witha container to cooperate with a chargemeasuring cylinder in the'reservoir of a filling machine in order totrap the charge in the measuring cylinder. In other wordsfif there is nocontainer present beneath the filling valve, the filling valve will nottrap the charge in the charge measuring cylinder and the chargedispensed therefrom will'flow back into the reservoir.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of aself-closing type of filling valve which will be operated by' thepresence of the material beingdispensed from a charge measuringcylinder.

"An object of the present invention is the provision of a filling valvewhich may be quickly and easily removed from a filling machine, thefilling valve having its parts so arranged that they may be easilycleaned when removed.

These and other objects of the present invention will appear moreclearly in the following specification, claims and drawings in which:

Figure l is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the filling machineof the present invention including a portion of the central column, thereservoir and one of the filling heads in the reservoir. "The piston ofthe charge measuring cylinder is in its upward position, the cylinderbeing fully charged while the filling valve is closed.

"Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure l but showing theright half of'the top portionof the filling machine. In this view, thefilling valve is opened and the piston of the charge measuring cylinderis in its extended position having dispensed with the charge from themeasuring"cy linder. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lowerportion of the filling machine including the lower rotating turview ofone of the filling heads mounted in the reservoir and disclosing itsfilling valve in the closed position.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the air valves forcontrolling air to one of the air cylinders which operates one of thecharge measuring cylinders. The valve is shown in the position forraising a piston in a charge measuring cylinder.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing one of the air valvesin a position for lowering a piston in a charge measuring cylinder.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the sequential operation of one ofthe filling valves, the charge measuring cylinder for the valve and theposition of its piston being omitted.

Figure 9 is a view taken on the line 99 of Figure 8 and including thecharge measuring cylinder and the relative position of the pistontherein.

Figure 10 is a view taken on the line 1010 of Figure 8 and including thecharge measuring cylinder. The filling valve in this position is closedbut in engagement with the valve seat on the charge measuring cylinder.

Figure 11 is a view taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 8 and includingthe charge measuring cylinder. The filling valve in this position isshown as open and the piston in the charge measuring cylinder is shownas descending and dispensing the charge.

Figure 12 is a view taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 8 and includingthe charge measuring cylinder. The charge has been dispensed and thefilling valve is closed but not lowered with respect to the chargemeasuring cylinder.

Figure 13 is a view taken on the line 1313 of Figure 8 and including thecharge measuring cylinder. In this position the filling valve is closedand lowered from the charge measuring cylinder and the piston in thecharge measuring cylinder is beginning its upward stroke to recharge thecylinder.

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the valve rubber disclosed in Figures 9to 13 inclusive.

Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the valve rubber of Figure 14taken on the line 15-15.

Figures 16 through 20 inclusive are sequential views of the operation ofa filling head and are similar to the views in Figures 9 to 13 butshowing a modified form of a self-closing filling valve wherein thefilling valve is operated by the pressure of the product being dispensedfrom the charge measuring cylinder.

Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view of the filling valve rubber taken onthe line 2121 of Figure 16.

Figure 22 is a perspective view of the filling valve rubber used in thefilling valve disclosed in Figures 16 to 20 as molded with the end cutoff.

Figure 23 discloses a perspective view of the end which has been cut offof the molded valve rubber of Figure 21.

Figure 24 discloses a perspective view of the molded valve rubber ofFigure 22 turned inside out and ready for use in the filling valvedisclosed in Figures 16 to 20.

Figure 25 is a cross sectional view of the filling valve rubber taken onthe line 25-25 of Figure 18.

General description The filling machine of the present invention asdisclosed in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive is of the rotary type for fillingcontainers with any fiowable material or product including thin liquids,as well as viscous liquids. More particularly, the machine is adaptedfor use in filling containers with food products, such as mayonnaise,peanut butter, garnish soups, syrup, sauces, salad dressing, or thelike, where it is of the utmost importance that the machine be sodesigned as to meet high sanitary requirements. In other words, themachine has been so designed that it may be readily cleaned before orafter each use and, further, there is no chance of contamination of theproduct being dispensed by the working parts of the machine or from dustor other impurities in the surrounding atmosphere. However, although theparticular use of the apparatus is for dispensing food products, it iswell within the scope of the present invention that the apparatus may beused to dispense other viscous products, such as toilet creams, toothpaste, oil, grease, liquid soap, heavy and thin flour paste, or thelike.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the filling machine of thepresent invention, in its preferred form, includes a stationary frame ortable generally indicated by the numeral 10 as best shown in Figure 3,and a rotary structure 12 mounted on the frame 10 for rotation withrespect thereto, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2. Rotary structure 12includes an upper rotating turret 14 and a lower rotating turret orcontainer supporting table 16. Upper rotating turret 14 is connected tocontainer supporting table 16 by means of a vertical central column 18which is adapted to support and rotate upper turret 14 with therotatable container supporting table 16. The lower turret or containersupporting table 16 is provided with a plurality of container supportingplatforms 20 mounted on its periphery for vertical movement with respectthereto. A circumferential cam member 22 mounted on stationary frame 10is adapted to engage a cam follower 23 mounted on each of the verticallymovable can supporting platforms to cause them to rise and lower astable 16 rotates.

Upper turret 14 includes a doughnut-shaped reservoir 24 having aplurality of filling heads generally indicated 26 mounted therein invertical alignment with container supporting platforms 20. Each of thefilling heads 26 includes a filling valve 28 vertically movable by acontainer with respect to reservoir 24 and a charge measuring cylinder30 positioned in alignment with and above the filling valve 28. Chargemeasuring cylinder 30 is adapted to deliver a measured charge of theproduct being dispensed to filling valve 28 after the valve has beenraised vertically by a container on the container supporting platform.Each charge measuring cylinder includes a piston 32 mounted therein andconnected to and operated by an air operated piston 34.

Concentric tubing is provided centrally of vertical column 18 and isadapted to supply compressed air to either side of each !of the airoperated pistons 34 and to exhaust air from the other side of pistons 34out and away from the machine depending on the cycle of operation. Amore detailed description of the means for controlling movement ofpistons 32 in charge measuring cylinders 30 will follow later in thespecification but it will suffice to say at this time that a camoperated air valve 36 connected to each of the pistons 34 willsequentially supply air alternately to one side or the other of pistons34 to control movement of pistons 32.

It will be noted in Figure 1 that filling valve 28 is adapted to movevertically with respect to reservoir 24 and to seat against a valve seat38 on the discharge end. of charge measuring cylinder 30. Filling valve28 when in its elevated position, as shown in Figure 2, will then beopened by a fixed cam 40 mounted in any suitable manner on thestationary frame 10. When filling valve 28 is open, piston 32 willdescend on its downward stroke in charge measuring cylinder 30 and forcethe product trapped therein by filling valve 28 through the valve into acontainer generally indicated A.

The operation of the filling machine may be briefly described generallyas follows.

Containers A are fed to the machine by a suitable conveyor (not shown)and are positioned on each of the vertically movable platforms 20 as theplatforms pass by the infeed station of the machine. The infeed stationof the present invention can be similar to that disclosed in .UnitedStates Patent No. 2,596,987 issued May 20, 1952, to Carl L. Day and LeoF. Pahl or it may be of some other suitable design. After receiving acontainer A, platform 20, which is carried by rotating table 16of therotating structure 12,. will be raised by thecam-member 22; so that thecontainer will engage filling. valvei 28= and raise thesame vertically.When filling valve 28- has seated itself against valve seat38 on thedischargeend of charge measuring cylinderSl), the valve will then be inposition to be opened by cam 40 fixed to stationary frame 10. Afterfilling valve 28 is opened, piston 32 in charge measuring cylinder 30will be actuated by the air operated piston 34 which will in propertimed sequence receive compressed air on its upper side from theconcentric air tubes positioned inthe central column 1 8. As piston 32descends, the product in charge measuring cylinder 39 will be forcedfrom its discharge end through the open valve 28 into container A. Afterstructure 12 has rotated a predetermined distance, piston 32 in chargemeasuring cylinder 30 will be in itsfully extended position and fillingvalve 28 will be closed and container A lowered therefrom by thecontainer platform 20. After filling valve 28 has become disengaged fromvalve seat- 38, piston 32 will return to its charge dispensing positionand at the same time will re-charge measuring cylinder 30 by drawing thefiowable product from reservoir 24 through the discharge end of thecylinder into the measuring chamber. Container A, having been filled isthen transferred from the container supporting platform 20 at adischarge station to a take off conveyor (not shown) where it is thentransferred to a container closing apparatus-or the like. The dischargeor outfeed station may be of the type disclosed inthe aforementioned Dayand Pahl patent or it may be of some other'suitabledesign.

Should there be a break in the-line of containers being supplied to thefilling machine by the infeed conveyor, container supporting platform 20will rise but because there is no container present onthe-platform,fillingvalve 28 will not rise. Since filling valve 28 will not-risewhenthis condition occurs,- it will not be able to engage cam 40 and,consequently, will not be openwhile the upper turret is rotating.However, piston 32 of charge measuring cylinder 30, which is operated.by a separate mechanism from that of filling valve 28, will movedownwill continue to operate satisfactorily even though a con'-' tumoris not present on one of the platforms during a sequence of operation.

Aflthough the filling machine'j'ust' described is a preferred embodimentof the invention, itisto be understood that certain changes ormodifications to the filling machine could be made and'still be withinthe scope of the in'vention. Since the previous description of thefilling machine and'its operation has' been merely general, a moredetailed description of the filling machine will follow and be dividedunder separate headings related to various parts of the apparatus. Adetailed description of the filling machine structure and its componentparts will be given under the heading Filling Machine Structure. Thecharge measuring cylinder and its component parts including its controland operation will be described in detail under the heading ChargeMeasuring Cylinder and Control. The filling valve disclosed in Figures1, 5' and 9 through 15 inclusiveis the preferred form of valve usedincooperation with the charge measuring cylinder. This valve, as well as asummary of itsoperation in conjunction with the operation of the chargemeasuring cylinder, will be described detail under the heading FillingValve. Figures;16 through 24 inclusive disclose a modified form offillingvalve for use with a charge measuring cylinder and thevalvedisclosed inthese figures is particularly adapted for useindispensingthick flowable material, suchas peanut butter, heavy pasteand creams.- A detailed-dese'ription of the modified filling valve andits operation will appear under the heading Modified FormofFilling-vaivez rotatably" supports vertical central column 18.

Filling machine structure The filling machine frame 10, a portion ofwhichis shown-in'Figure= 3, may be of any suitable design for supportingthe rotary structure 12 including the upper and lower turrets 14 and 16respectively. Frame 10, which is supported on suitable standards (notshown),'is' provided with a base member 42 having an upper surfaceonwvhicli is mounted the stationary, arcuate shaped cam 22. Caro 22 issupported adjacent lower rotating turret 16by means of verticalstandards or posts 44 which are fixed to the upper surface of basemember 42 by means of studs 11' or the like. A downwardly facing cam surface 21 isprovided on cam 22 and is adapted to engage carnfollowers 23"mounted on each of the vertically movable container supportingplatform-s 20; Because each of the container supporting platforms 20 isnormally urged upwardly by suitable springs 25, cam 22throuig'h camfollowers 23 will control the raising and lowering of the containersupporting platforms.

Centrally positioned and fixed to the base member 42 is a verticalhollow collar or sleeve member 46 which As previously mentioned, centralcolumn 13 supports the rotating structure 12 but it will be noted thatthe lower turret 16 is welded to column 18 as indicated at 19 whileupper turret 14 is detachably secured to central column 18 byfmeans oflock ring 90. A more detailed description of lock ring 90 and itspurpose will follow later in the specification. Suitable bearings 48 aresupported by the" collar 46 and permit vertical column 18 to rotate withrespect to stationary frame 10. A lubrication fitting 27 mounted onlower turret 16 provides for means for conveniently lubricating bearings48;

As" shown: in Figure 3, frame 10 is provided with a bell-shap'edcas'ting" 50 bolted to the lower surface" of base" member 42 asindicated at 52. Casting 50 rotatablysupports a plurality of sprocketwheels 54 which are connected togetherby means of an endless chain 56'.Sprocket wheels 54 are adapted to receive elevating screws (not shown)which support filling valve cam shown in- Fig'ures 1 and 2'. Because thedetails of the elevating mechanism are similar to those disclosed inPatent No. 2,329,954 issued September 21, 1943, to Robert I. Stewart andHenry H. Franz, it is not believed necessary to repeat them in thisspecification.

Mounted centrally of casting and extending up- Wardly through verticalcentral column 18 is piping generally indicated at for supplying andexhausting compressed air to and from air operated pistons 34 in upper Irotating turret 14. Piping 66 comprises an outer air tube 62 which 'iskeyed to the casting 50, as indicated at 64, and an inner air tube 66.The lower end of outer tube 62 is exteriorly threaded, as indicated at63, and is adapted to be received in an elevating sprocket 58 rotatablysupported in casting 50 by suitable bearings 59. Mounted centrally ofthe outer air tube 62 is inner air tube 66 for supplying compressed airto each of the air operated pistons 34. Both the outer and inner airtubes 62 and 66 respectively terminate at their lower ends into aT-fitting 70 having the outlets 72 and 74. Outlet 72 of T-fitting 79 isin communication with the interior of tube 66 through passage 71 whileoutlet 74 is in communication with the space, between tube 66 and thetube 62 through passage 73. Flexible tubings 76 and 78 "are connected tothe outlets 72 and 74 respectively of the T-fitting 70. Flexible tubing.76 and 78 run from T-fitting 70 to a control panel (not shown) for thefilling machine. Suitable controls are provided on the control panel foradmitting compressed air from an air compressor apparatus to the tubing76 and-for exhausting air from tubing 78 to the an compressor apparatus.

The upper ends of air tubes 62 and 66 terminate in and areconnected toan air distributor generally indicated at 80. Details of air distributor80 and it's passages for distributing air to and from each of the airvalves 36 will follow in the specification after the description of theupper and lower turrets 14 and 16 is completed.

As previously mentioned, the vertical central column 18 is rotatablymounted in base member 42 of frame by means of bearings 48 or the like.Vertical central column 18 extends upwardly from the surface of basemember 42 and is provided with a radially extending flange 43, Figure 3,which supports lower rotating turret or container supporting table 16.Table 16, which is rigidly supported on flange 43 of vertical centralcolumn 18 by welding as indicated at 19, is provided with a plurality ofvertically movable container supporting platforms 20 mounted on itsperiphery. As previously mentioned, each platform 20 is provided with acam follower 23 which cooperates with the cam surface 21 of stationarycam 22 to raise and lower the platform with respect to table 16 andframe 10.

The lower end portion of central column 18 extends below the lower endof sleeve 46 and is provided with a drive gear 82 which is keyedthereto, as indicated at 84. Drive gear 82 is adapted to engage suitabledriving means to rotate it and thereby rotate the central column and therotary structure 12 mounted thereon.

Referring to Figure 4, the upper end of central column 18 receives asleeve 86 which depends downwardly from upper rotating turret 14. Sleeveor collar 86 is keyed to central column 18, as indicated at 88, therebyproviding the drive for the upper rotating turret 14. The lower end ofsleeve 86 is adapted to be locked against vertical movement with respectto central column 18 by means of a lock ring 90, shown in Figure 3.

The upper end of sleeve 86 supports upper rotating turret 14 whichincludes doughnut-shaped reservoir 24 and a valve casing 92. Valvecasting 92 is attached to the flanged upper end 93 of sleeve 86 by meansof the bolts or studs 94 while reservoir 24 is attached to an outerperipheral flange 95 of valve casing 92 by means of the bolts or studs96. Suitable bearings 98 are provided between air tube 62 and valvecasing 92 so that the valve casting and reservoir may rotate withrespect to air tube 62. It will also be noted that a suitable gasket orsealing ring 100 surrounds tube 62 below bearing 98 and forms a sealbetween the tube and casing 92 whereby compressed air in the interalpassages of valve casing 92 will not be able to leak past the bearingdown through the vertical column and out into the atmosphere surroundingthe machine. Another gasket or sealing ring 101 is provided on the upperend of air distributor 80 and forms a seal between the distributor andvalve casing 92 above the air passages in the distributor and valvecasing. Lock rings 103 and 105 retain seals 100 and 101 respectively inplace on the valve casting.

In Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that doughnut-shaped reservoir 24 isprovided with an outer wall 102, base wall 104 and an inner wall 106.Depending upwardly from the inner wall 106 and integral therewith is aconeshaped cover member 108. The cover member provides a cover for thevalve casing and its associated mechanism for operating the chargemeasuring cylinders. Centrally positioned on cover member 108 ofreservoir 24 is an upwardly depending standard or post 110 having adepression 112 in its upper end. Depression 112 receives a ball bearing114 on which a reservoir cover 116 is pivotally supported. As best shownin Figures 1 and 2, cover 116 of the reservoir is provided with acentrally positioned and downwardly extending sleeve member 118 having ablock 120 in its upper end. A suitable hook 122 or the like is threadedinto the block 120. Cover 116 is adapted to be supported by the ball 114and post 110 and to remain stationary while reservoir 24 rotates. Sleeve118 of cover 116 fits over the post 110 on the reservoir and preventscover 116 from tilting on a horizontal axis.

Mounted adjacent the periphery of cover 116 is an inlet tube 124 whichis connected to a pipe 126 by means of a hexagonal nut 127 leading froma source of supply of the flowable product to be dispensed. It will nowbe evident that as the upper turret rotates, carrying with it thereservoir 24, the reservoir cover 116 will remain stationary on ballbearing 114. The flowable material being supplied through pipe 126 andinlet tube 124 will be evenly distributed on the interior surface of therotating reservoir. By providing a stationary cover through which theproduct to be dispensed is supplied to the reservoir, the reservoir canbe kept closed and the vertical column of the machine utilized forsupplying compressed air to operate the air operated pistons which inturn operates pistons 32 in charge measuring cylinders 301 When it isdesired to clean out the inside of the reservoir, it' is merelynecessary to hook a hoist onto hook 122 and lift the cover 116vertically off of post of reservoir 24.

The level of flowable material in reservoir 24 does not have to bemaintained at a constant level throughout operation of the fillingmachine. However, the level of flowable material in reservoir 24 ismaintained between upper and lower limits. A high-low probe device,generally indicated at 402, is provided to control the upper and lowerlimits of the flowable material in reservoir 24. Device 402 is providedwith a high level probe 404 and a low level probe 406. Probes 404 and406 actuate a relay (not shown) that controls the off-on position of afour-way solenoid air valve (not shown) which in turn supplies air to adouble acting rotary air cylinder (not shown). The rotary air cylinderis coupled mecham cally to a rotary plug type of flow control valve (notshown) mounted in the pipe 126 and controls the flow of material to'reservoir 24. When the level of flowable material in reservoir 24touches the high level probe 404, the relay will be so actuated as tocause the fourway solenoid valve to actuate the double acting rotary aircylinder to close the plug type flow control valve. When the level offlowable material drops below the lower tip of the low level probe 406,the relay is actuated so as to cause the solenoid air valve to actuaterotary air cylinder to open the flow control valve and permit the flowof material through pipe 126 into reservoir 24. The flowable materialwill be supplied into reservoir 24 until such time that the level of thematerial in the reservoir will rise and touch the lowermost point of thehigh level probe 404 when, as previously stated, the flow of materialwill be stopped. A manually operated plug valve (not shown) may also beprovided in the inlet pipe 45 for completely shutting off the flow ofmaterial when the machine is shut down and for controlling the rate offlow of material when the machine is in operation. In other words,.themanual valve can be opened a specific amount to control the rate of flowthrough it so that the demand of filling of the reservoir is close tothe rate of flow through the manual valve and, thus, prevents the probelevel control device 402 from being actuated on short intervals.

Reservoir 24 supports a plurality of filling heads 26 in verticalalignment with each of the container supporting platforms 20. Fillinghead '26 includes charge measuring cylinder 30 positioned within thereservoir and filling valve 28 depending below the reservoir. Forpresent purposes of description, it will sufiice to say that containersA are placed upon the container platform 20 as the container platform isrotating with the table or lower turret 16. The container platform willbe caused to raise vertically by cam 22 to bring the container intosealing engagement with the valve 28. A sequence of operations thenoccur which include opening of valve 28, and discharging of a measuredcharge from charge measuring cylinder 30 through the valve into thecontainer as the machine rotates. After the container is filled, thevalve is closed and the container is lowered 9 by the. containerplatform and removed. therefrom; The charge.v measuring cylinder will helie-charged from the product from the reservoir and the-operation: can.betre peated on the next container. which is placed. upon platform 20.

When it is desired to convert the apparatus from one size container toanother-size container;v it is merely necessary to release the lock ringas and rotate one of. the sprockets 54-. Rotation of sprocket 54 willcause. rotation of. sprocket 58 through means of endless chain- 56. Byrotating sprocket 54, the elevating shafts (not shown) will cause thevalve cam 40, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2, to raise or lower. Onthe other hand, they rotation. of sprocket 53 about the piping 60 willcause. the piping 60 to raise vertically since thepiping is: keyed tothe casting 50 of frame iii, as. indicated at 64. When the piping 60raises or lowers, it. will. carry with it upper rotating turret 14through bearing 98, best shown in Fig ures. 1, 2. and 4. After upperrotating turret 14- andstationary valve cam 40 are adjusted to avproper. height, it. is merely necessary to lock the lock ring 90:into'position so that the sleeve 86 will be. locked with. respect tovertical-central column iii.

Charge measuring cylinder and. control" Each of the charge measuringcylinders. 30 has been previously described as being positioned in. thereservoir above and in alignment with filling. valves 28 and con: tainersupporting platforms. 20. As bestshown in Figures 1 and. 2, each of. thecharge measuring cylinders, 30 is vertically positioned within. thereservoir and. arecylinr drically shaped and opened atbothends. The.lowerend of, charge measuring cylinder 30 is providedwith in.- wardlytapered wall 128 defining a dischargeopening 130. The inner peripheryof. wall 128 is provided. with. the valve seat 38 which will bedescribed in more detaillin connectionwith the filling valve. As.shoWn.in.Figure:5, charge measuring cylinder 30 is providedwitha reducedlower end portion 132 extendingdownwardly from ta-. pered wall 128 belowdischarge opening. 13.0 which. is adapted. to fitinto a bore 134 inthelower. wall 104 of reservoir 24. Lateral openings-131 are provided in.the reduced portion 132 of cylinder 30 andare positioned above the lowerwall 104 of reservoirv 2.4 when charge measuring cylinder 30 is in placein-reservoir 24 sothat the interior of the reservoir will beincommunieation with the interior of cylinder. 30. A. suitable seal136,;such as the O-ring seal shown inFigure 5,.iszprovided between thelower wall 104 of reservoir 24' andrreduced portion 132 of cylinder 30.

In order to positively retain chargemeasuringcylindcr 30 inplace withinreservoir 24, the outer surface. of..rer ducedportion 132,.which extendsbelowthelower wall of the. reservoir, is provided with threadsa 133.which re.- ceive anut 234. Although the preferred form; otthe inventiondiscloses the charge measuringcylinder: as-sbea' ing provided with areduced portion extending-through thelower wall of the reservoir andretained thereiru by means of a nut threaded-thereto, as shOWninFigures. 1, 2and 5, it is well withinthe scope of the presentinventionto support the charge measuringcylinders within reservoir 24 in anyconvenient manner, such as. by brackets extending from the innersurfaces of; the. ver tical walls of the reservoir. If the chargemeasuring cylinders are so supported from within -.the.reservoir;itawill merely be necessary to position the discharge-endssthereof fromthe bottom wall of the reservoir asshown'in Figures 9 to 13. Theprinciple of .operationwillbe identical.

Mounted in each of-charge measuringcylinders 30 for reciprocatingmovementis a piston 32 which: is pro: vided with a piston head 140having a.circumfer.ential groove 142 therein; Mounted ingroove142isvanz5Qi-ring 1.44 or the likewhich provides forsealing.;engagement Withthe walls of the. charge measuring cylinder: Thepurpose. of .providing an O-ring is. to eliminate. metalzto.

metal contact between theepiston and the wallsoi cylinder 30,. as. wellasto provide for easy maintenance whenthe sealing, surface. becomes.worn. However, it is within the scope of the present invention that thecylinder and/ or piston bev made of plastic material in order to'obtainthe same results. Piston 32 also includes a piston rod146 whichextendsupwardly from piston head and outof charge. measuring: cylinder30. Piston rod 146 in turn is connected to a crank arm 148, as bestshown inFigures 1 and 2 and. crank arm 148 in turn is connected to; apiston rod 150 which supports the. air operated piston 34. In order toprotect the. product in reservoir 24 from the mechanical working partsof the filling machine, a rubber bellows type boot 152 isconnectedbetweencrank arm 148 and. the cover 108 of reservoir 24. Boot152, which surrounds piston rod 150 is adapted to. close: or seal offthe interior of the reservoir from. the air operated piston 34 and itsassociated mechanisms.

The mechanism for operating each of the charge measuringcylinders 30 hasbeen previously described briefly as including air, operated pistons 34mounted in the valve casing 92,v cam operated valves 36 also mounted invalve. casingv 92 for distributing air to one side or the other ofpiston 34' and an air distributor 86 supported on the upper end ofpipiug69 for distributing. and exhausting airfrom the piping to the pistons34. Referring specifically to. Figure 4, it will be noted that airdistributor 80, which ismountedon the upper end of: piping 60 and heldin.place by a lock nut 153, is constructed of two. concentric members155 and 157 for use in assembly and disassembly. Outer member 157 isheld rigid with respect to inner member 155 by means of a tapered pin159. Air distributor 80 is provided with a central bore 154 which is incommunication with the passage in the inner air tube:66.. Bore154 whichis closed at its upper end. is. also. inv communication with aseriesofradially extending passages 156, which communicate With.acircumferential groove 158 in the peripheral wall. of air distributor80. Groove 158 serves as a manifold for distributing compressed airto'air valves 36 and piston 34. Air distributor 80 is also provided witha second hori* zontal passage 160 which is in communication with thespace betweenthe outer air tube '62 and the inner air tube 66. Aninternal vertical passage 162 in air dis-. tributor 80 communicates withpassage 160 andialso com municates atv itsiupper end with. a radiallyextending pas sage 164. Passage 164 in. turn communicates with asecondcircumferential. groove 166 in the peripheral wall of air.distributor 80, which also serves as a manifold, but for exhaust air. Itwill be seen that compressed air cantravel from a source. of compressedair through the flexible; tube 76 in Figure 3 into the central airtube-66 upwardly intobore' 154 of air distributor SO-and from therebydistributor outwardly through theradially eX- tending; passages 156 tothe manifold or groove 158. Exhaustedair will flow from the manifold orgroove 166 through thepassages 164, 162 and 160 of air distributor 80intothe space between air tubes 66 and 62 respectively down to theT-connection70 (Figure 3) where it isdistributedthrough the outlet 74into the flexible tubing 78 andback to the source of compressed air orto at= mosphere' at a position remote from the filling machine:

Valve. casing'92, which is supportedv on flange 93 of vertical centralcolumn 18, for rotation with respect to the. outer: air tube 62-by'means of bearings 98, is pro vided withaplurality of air. passagescommunicating and cooperating with passages inv air distributor 80. Thedescription of the air passages, valves, and piston mechanismspositioned in valvezcasing 92 will be made from the peripheryofthe-easing inward towardair distributor 80 Valve "casing't92 is'providedaround its periphery with a. plurality of vertical bores168, one borebeing pro vided" forea'ch of the charge measuring cylinders 30inreservoiri24. I Bore- 168 provides a chamb'er'in which air operatedpiston 134 is adapted to reciprocate vertically. A member 170 isprovided at the upper end of each of the bores 168 and is bolted tovalve casing 92 as indicated at 171. Member 170 is provided with a bore172 through which piston rod 150 extends upwardly through cover 108 ofreservoir 24 and is connected to connecting arm 148. A suitable sealingring 174 is provided in the upper end of the bore 172 to seal againstthe leakage of compressed air therefrom. Member 170 is provided with apassage 176 on its lower face which is adapted to communicate with theinterior of the chamber formed by the bore 168 and a passage in valvecasing 92 to be described later. A second member 178, similar to themember 170, is bolted to the casing 92, as indicated at 179, so as tocover the lower end of bore 168. Member 178 is provided with a bore 180therethrough through which an extension 182 of piston rod 150 can extenddownwardly and out of the chamber formed by bore 168. A suitable seal184 is also provided in the member 178 to seal against compressed airleaking from the chamber formed by bore 168 into the atmospheresurrounding the filling machine. A passage 186 is also provided in theupper face of member 178 for communication with the chamber formed byseal 168 and a passage in valve casing 92 to be described hereinafter.

Mounted interiorly of each of the bores 168 in valve casing 92 is adownwardly extending passage 188 closed at its lower end which is incommunication at its upper end with the previously mentioned passage 176in member 170. Passage 188 in turn is in communication with an inwardlyextending radial passage 190. Also mounted interiorly of bore 168 is asecond passage 192 in vertical alignment with passage 188 and extendingupwardly in valve casing 92. Passage 192 is closed at its upper end andhas its lower end in communication with the passage 186. The upper endof passage 192 communicates with an inwardly extending radial passage194 in valve casing 92. Positioned in valve casing 92 between passages188 and 192 and air distributor 80 is a vertical bore 196 which houses afour-way air valve generally indicated at 36. Passages 190 and 192communicate with bore 196 at their inner ends. Four-way air valve 36, asbest shown in Figures 4, 6 and 7, is of the type which includes a valvestem 198 having spaced reduced portions 200. Valve stem 198 is adaptedto form seals with spaced valve seats 202 mounted in the bore 196. Thesequence of operation of the machine will determine the position of thevalve stem and, consequently, the position of the reduced portions 200will determine the direction of the flow of air through the passages 190and 194.

Valve casing 92 is provided with radially extending passage 204communicating with the circumferential groove 166 in air distributor 80.The inner end of passage 204 is in communication with groove 166 whilethe outer end of passage 204 is in communication with bore 1.96, whichhouses four-way valve 36. A second radially extending passage 206positioned below passage 204 is in communication at its inner end withthe circumferential groove 1.58 in air distributor 80 and at its outerend with bore 196. There is still a third radially extending passage 208positioned below the passages 204 and 206 audit is in communication withthe passage 160 in air distributor 80 at its inner end while its outerend communicates with bore 196.

Mounted on the upper end of valve stem 198 is a cam follower 210 whichcooperates with an arcuate shaped cam 212 mounted on the upper end ofair distributor 80. Cam 212 is stationary while the cam follower 210rotates with the rotating turret 14. Cam 212 is provided with a groove214 in its upper surface and with vertical passages 215 extendingdownwardly from the groove and opening onto the working face 217 of thecam. A lubricant retainer 216, such as a felt pad or the like, is soakedwith a suitable lubricant, and is adapted to be fitted into groove 214.The lubricant will drain from 12 pad 216 through the passages 215 ontothe working surface 217 of cam 212 and thus, lubricate the cam and camfollower 210.

As is evident from Figure 4, cam 212 is stationary with respect to frame10 and to the piping 60 because it is clamped to air distributor 80.Thus, when upper rotating turret 14 of the machine rotates, cam 212 willcause valve 36 to be moved downwardly against the tension of spring 218,which normally urges the valve upwardly. Through a sequence of operationof valve 36, which will be explained more fully later in thespecification, air will be supplied to one side of piston 34 and then tothe other side. The air which must be exhausted from the chamber formedby bore 168 for each stroke of piston 34 is exhausted through valve 36to the space between tubes 62 and 66. Since it may be necessary toadjust the timing of valves 36 with respect to the operation of thefilling valves 28, cam 212 may be adjusted by merely loosening it fromdistributor and rotating it to a desired position.

To adjust the level of fill of containers A, it is neces sary to adjustthe stroke of piston 32 in charge measuring cylinder 30. The presentinvention provides for a single adjustment of the stroke of all pistons32 whereby level of fill of all filling heads 26 is adjusted, and aunitary or vernier adjustment of a single piston whereby level of fillin a single filling head is adjusted. As previously mentioned, eachpiston rod is provided with extension 182 which extends out of thechamber formed by bore 168. The lower end of extension 182 is threaded,as indicated at 183 in Figure 4, and receives an adjustment nut 185.Adjustment nut 185 is locked in position by a second nut 187. The uppersurface of nut 185 bears against a stop 189 which is the periphery of anadjustment ring 191. Travel limit or adjustment ring 191 is providedwith a smooth bore 400 which is adapated to slide over the externalthreads 87 on sleeve 86. In other words, adjustment ring 191 can bemoved vertically on sleeve 86 so as to adjust the stroke of pistons 34which determine movement of piston 32. To hold adjustment ring 191 in adesired position on sleeve 86, a suitable back-up nut 193 is threadedonto sleeve 86. Back-up nut 193, which functions as a jack nut formoving adjustment ring 191 vertically, is provided with pivotal arms 195having inwardly extending projections 197 which are adapted to engage acircumferential groove 199 on the hub of adjustment ring 191.

When it is desired to adjust the level of fill in contarners, it isfirst necessary to make an adjustment for an accurate charge in eachpiston by means of the adustment nut 185 on the extensions of each ofthe piston rods 150. This adjustment will limit the upward stroke ofpiston rod 182. Then when it is desired to change the level of fill inall containers, the filling charges in each of the filling cylinders isadjusted simultaneously by means of the adjustment ring 191. Morespecifically, the pivotal arms 195 on backup nut 193 are pivoted out ofengagement with adjustment ring 191, thus, permitting the ring to bemoved vertically upwardly or downwardly. The back-up nut 193 is now freeto be screwed upwardly or downwardly on threads 87 as may be desired.Rotation of back-up nut 193 will cause vertical movement of adjustmentring 191 and, consequently, adjustment of the upward stroke of allpistons 34. Once the desired adjustment has been made, the pivotal arms195 are again clamped into position so that they engage the groove 197of adjustment 191 so as to lock the adjustment ring in the adjustedposition.

If, during operation of the filling maching, it is noted that onecontainer is not filling to a proper level, an individual vernieradjustment of the air operated piston for that particular filling head,which is out of adjustment, can be made. To accomplish an individualadjustment of a filling head, it is merely necessary to back-off locknut 187 and adjust nut 185 up or down the extension 182 as the situationrequires. This in eifect will limit the stroke of piston 32 for theparticular filling head which is out of adjustment.

Filling valve Referring specifically to Figure 5, it will be noted thatthe filling valve 28 of filling head 26 is positioned in the bore 221 ofreduced end 132 of charge measuring cylinder 30. Valve 28 includes anelongated cylindrical member 223 having a bore 222 therethrough. Member220 is provided with an enlarged counter-bore 224 at the lower endthereof. A laterally extending projection 226 is provided on element 224for supporting a valve operating member generally indicated at 228.Mounted within bore 222 of cylindrical member 220 is a valve rubber orelement 230 which is shaped substantially similar to that disclosed inFigures 14 and 15. The valve element 230, which is made of a resilientrubber material, is provided with a circumferential flange 232 at itsupper end which is adapted to rest on the upper end of cylindricalmember 220.

As previously mentioned, charge measuring cylinder 36 is retained withinreservoir 24 by providing the lower reduced portion 132 which extendsthrough bottom wall 104, with threads 133 that receive nut 234. Acircumferential shoulder 235 is provided on the lower surface of nut 234and a spring 236 is interposed between this shoulder and a flange 240 oncylindrical member 220. Thus, spring 236 will normally urge thevertically movable member 222 away from valve seat 38 on chargemeasuring cylinder 30.

In order to prevent valve assembly 28 from falling out of its positionwithin bore 221 of reduced portion 132, a laterally extending projection242 is provided on the lower end of valve member 220 and a stop element244 is threaded into the bottom wall 104 of reservoir 24. Stop element244 is provided with a pivotal arm 246 which has enlarged end 247 thatengages the projection to limit the downward movement of the valveassembly. By providing a stop assembly such as shown in Figure 5, theoperator of the filling machine can easily change the valve assembly toclean the same by merely pivoting arm 246 to the dotted line positionshown in Figure so that the valve assembly as a unit will be free forremoval from the reservoir. When arm 246 is in the dotted line positionof Figure 5, spring 236' will urge the valve assembly out of bore 221into the operators hand.

Valve rubber 230, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, is cylindrically shapedand provided with the circumferential flange 232 at its upper or intakeend. The discharge end of valve rubber 230 is of slightly smallerdiameter than the intake end. In its relaxed position, valve rubber 230is provided with a bore 231 through which the product being dispensedcan flow unobstructed. To close valve rubber 230, it is merely necessaryto pinch the tube and this causes flow therethrough to stop. Themechanism for closing-off valve rubber 230 includes a lever arm 248mounted on a pivot pin 250 vertically positioned in projection 226.Lever arm 248 is normally urged into contact with valve rubber 230 toclose the same by means of a spring 252 mounted on pivot pin 250 andhaving its opposite ends bearing against member 229 and the lever arm248. Mounted on the outer end of lever arm 248 is a cam follower orroller 254 which is adapted upon a particular sequence of operation toengage stationary cam 40 mounted on frame 10. In other words, when thecontainer A is raised by a container supporting platform of Figure 3,the container will engage the lower surface 256 of member 220 and willmake contact therewith. Further upward movement by the containersupporting platform will cause the container to lift the valve assemblyvertically until the circumferential flange 232 of valve rubber 230engages valve seat 38 forming a seal therewith. When the valve assemblyis in this raised position, cam follower 254 will be in horizontalalignment with and in the path of cam 40 and, thus, as the machinerotates, cam follower 254 will engage and be actuated by cam 40 to openvalve element 230 against the tension of spring 252. Once the pressureof the lever arm 248 has been relieved from valve rubber 230, it willassume its relaxed position and as the filling machine rotates, thepiston in charge measuring cyinder 30 will begin to descend and causethe product trapped in the chamber of charge measuring cylinder 30 toflow through valve rubber 230 into the container. The air in thecontainer will be exhausted or vented from the container to atmospherethrough the space occupied by the lever arm 248, as shown by the arrowsin Figures 11 and 12.

A modified means of retaining valve assembly 28 in position within bore131 is disclosed in Figure 9 of the drawing. A projection 258 may beprovided on reservoir 24 and a spring element 260 may be bolted thereto,as indicated at 261. The downwardly extending spring element is providedwith an off-set portion 262 adapted to fit under a laterally extendingprojection or flange 263 on member 230 so as to limit downward movementof the valve assembly. When it is desired to replace the valve assembly,it is merely necessary to displace the spring element to one side sothat the valve assembly will be clear to drop from its position in thefilling head. It will be noted in Figure 10 that valve assembly 28 hasbeen raised vertically by a container. In this position, flange 263 willlift ofi of the off-set portion 262 of spring element 260. When thecontainer is lowered, the off-set portion 262 will act as a stop tolimit downward movement of valve assembly 28.

The operation of the apparatus thus far described is as follows:

Referring specifically to Figures 1 and 3, container A is positioned onone of the container supporting platforms 26 at the infeed station ofthe filling machine as it continuously rotates. The container supportingplatform which is normally urged upwardly by suitable spring means isallowed to travel upwardly by the contour of cam 22. As the containersupporting platform raises vertically, the container will engage thelower surface 256 of valve assembly 28. Valve assembly 28 is raisedvertically against the tension of spring 236 until such time that thecircumferential flange 232 of valve rubber 230 engages and seals againstthe Valve seat 38 positioned on the discharge end of charge measuringcylinder 30. A charge of the flowable product in the charge measuringcylinder will be trapped therein. Referring now to Figures 8 to 13inclusive which show the sequence of the filling operation, it will benoted that as the upper turret 14 rotates, cam follower 254, which isnow in alignment with and in the path of the stationary cam 40 willengage the cam to pivot lever arm 250 out of engagement with valverubber 230. After lever arm 250 is pivoted out of engagement with valverubber 230, piston 32 in charge measuring cylinder 30 starts on itsdownward stroke forcing the product trapped in the chamber of cylinder30 to be dispensed through valve rubber 230.

In more detail and as shown in Figure 8, stationary cam 40 is of suchlength as to be in the path of cam followers 254 for a period ofapproximately of rotation of the filling machine. If it is desired toopen or close assembly 28 for a longer or shorter period of time, cam 40can bevmade either longer or shorter as the situation requires. InFigure 9 and the upper right hand portion of Figure 8, the valveassembly 28 and the piston 32 of charge measuring cylinder 30 are shownin a position during the first stage of the filling cycle. In thisposition, container A has just been placed on container supportingplatform 22 but the container has not been raised into engagement withvalve assembly 28. Figure 10 represents a position of the filling headjust prior to opening of valve rubber 230. In other words, filling valve28 has been raised into sealing engagement with valve seat 38cm thedischarge end ofcylinder-30, trapping a charge of the fiowable productin the cylinder. Cam follower 254 is now in the path of cam 40 and thepiston 32 in charge measuring cylinder 30 has not yet begun to descend.

When the filling head reaches a position such as shown in Figure 11,valve rubber 230 has been opened and pisotn 32 in charge measuringcylinder 30 has begun its downward operation. Referring now to Figures 1and 4, it will be clear that the compressed air travelling upwardlythrough the air tube 66 will pass outwardly through the passage 156 inair distributor St to the pressure passage 206 in the valve casing 22.Valve 36 will have been operated by cam 212 to the position shown inFigure 7 and, consequently, the air under pressure travelling throughpassage 206 will be directed by the valve through passage 190 topassages 188 and 176 to the upper side of piston 34. This position ofvalve 36 causes piston 34 to then move downwardly within its chamberformed by bore 168 which in turn causes piston rod 150 to move the crankarm 148, piston rod 146 and piston 32 downwardly in the charge measuringcylinder. The air on the lower side of piston 34 is exhausted throughthe passages 186, 192, 194, 208 and 160 to the space between the airtubes 62 and 66.

After the charge has been dispensed from the chamber of cylinder 30through valve assembly 28, the filling head reaches the position shownin Figure 12. In this position, cam follower 254 has become disengagedwith cam 40 causing lever arm 243 to pinch valve rubber 230 closed. Alsoit will be noted that piston 32 has reached the limit of its downstroke, but container A and valve assembly 28 are still in theirelevated position.

Figure 13 discloses the relative position of the filling head just aftercontainer A has been lowered from engagement with valve assembly 28. Itwill be noted that valve assembly 28 has also been lowered from itselevated position. After the above occurs, piston 32 in charge measuringcylinder 30 is caused to make its return stroke by the valve 36 beingactuated by cam 42 to a position such as shown in Figures 1 and 6. Inthis position, air under pressure enters from air tube 66 to the passage156 and distributor 80 and from there it passes through the pressurepassage 206 and is directed by valve 36 to the passages 194, 192 and 186to the underside of piston 34. Piston 34 rises vertically causing thepiston 32 in charge measurig cylinder 3t) to also rise vertically and todraw the product from the reservoir through the passage 131 into theinterior of the chamber defined by cylinder 30. The air on the upperside of piston 34 is exhausted through passages 178, 188 and 190 to thevalve 36 where it is directed to the passage 2M and the groove 164 andpassage 162 in air distributor 80 to the space between air tubes 62 and66. If there is a break in the continuous feeding of containers to thefilling machine, the container supporting platform is still raisedvertically as the filling machine rotates but since there is nocontainer on the platform, valve assembly 28 will not be raised intosealing engagement with the valve seat 38. Because valve assembly 28does not rise under this condition. of operation, its cam follower 254will not be in the path of stationary earn 4% and, hence, valve rubber230 will not be opened. However, the just-rnentioned operation of piston32 for discharging the product from the interior of cylinder 3-0 will berepeated but instead of the product being trapped and dispensed throughvalve rubber 230 onto the table, the product will pass outwardly throughpassages 131 back into the reservoir. The rip-stroke of piston 32 willcause the product in reservoir to be redrawn into cylinder 31 and thefilling machine will be ready for receiving a container the next time itpasses the infeed station of the filling machine.

1 Modified form of filling valve Figures 16 through inclusive disclose amodified form of filling valve which may be used in the filling Ina:

chine of the present invention in place of the filling valve 28disclosed in Figures 1 to 15 inclusive. The modified form of valve hasbeen found to be particularly useful in dispensing viscous liquids, suchas mayonnaise, mustard or the like, but it may also be used for othertypes of fiowable products. When the modified form of filling valveassembly, generally indicated by the numeral 270 is used in the fillingmachine just previously described, it is not necessary to provide themachine with stationary cam 40 and valve operating member 228 becausethe modified form of valve is self-closing and operable by pressure ofthe product being discharged from charge measuring cylinder 30.Referring specifically to Figures 16 to 20 inclusive, the modified formof valve 270 includes an enlongated cylindrical element 272 mounted forvertical movement in the bore 271 of a downwardly depending boss 274positioned in the bottom wall of reservoir 24. Boss 274, as shown inFigure 16, is integral with the reservoir, however, the boss could besimilar to that disclosed in Figure 5 in that it could be a portion ofthe charge measuring cylinder 30 extending through an aperature in thebottom of the reservoir. Cylindrical member 272 is provided with a bore276 which has an enlarged counter bore 278 at one end thereof. The lowerend of cylindrical member 272 is provided with a circumferential andlaterally extending flange 230 provided with a downwardly facingcontainer engaging surface 281. At least one radial groove 282 isprovided in container engaging surface 281 so that container A will bevented to atmosphere when in sealing engagement with surface 281.

Cylindrical member 272 is normally urged away from reservoir 24 by meansof a spring 284 which is positioned between flange 280 and the lowerwall of the reservoir. Spring element 260 depending downwardly from thelower'wall of reservoir 24- is provided to limit the downward movementof cylindrical element 272 in the same manner as spring element 260limits the downward movement of the valve assembly 28 in Figure 9. Italso provides an easy means of removing valve assembly 270 for cleaningor replacement. Spring element 260 can be moved laterally out ofengagement with flange 280 leaving valve assembly 270 free to be removedvertically from reservoir 24. Stop element 244 disclosed in Figure 5 maybe used with valve assembly 270 instead of spring 260 if so desired.

Supported by cylindrical member 272 and extending downwardly through itsbore is a modified form of valve rubber 286 which is self-closing andoperable to open by the pressure of product being dispensed from chargemeasuring cylinder 31 in reservoir 24. Referring specifically to Figure24, it will be noted that valve rubber 286 is provided at its upper endwith a laterally extending circumferential flange 288 which is adaptedto seat against the upper edge of cylindrical member 272. The bodyportion of valve rubber 236 is substantially cylindrical, as indicatedat 2% whereas the lower portion 292 takes a ribbon-like form and isnormally pressed tightly together by the internal stresses in the wallsof .that portion of the valve rubber.

The method of manufacturing valve rubber 286 includes the use of asingle cavity mold which will mold the valve rubber into the formdisclosed in Figures 22 and 23. It will be noted that the lower portion292 of valve rubber 286 is molded into the form of a figure eight. Afterthe valve rubber has been molded, the lower closed end 294, shown inFigure 23, is cut from the valve rubber and then the valve rubber isturned inside out. The internal stresses caused by the molding of thelower portion of valve rubber into the form of a figure eight will causethat portion of the valve rubber to act in an opposite direction therebycausing the lower portion 292 to normally take the fiat ribbon-likeshape as disclosed in Figures 24 and 21. The valve rubber has sufiicientstress in the lower portion 292 to prevent leakage from

